By Adam Berls

mental health

988 hotline another step in providing support for mental health

Jan 26, 2023 | 3:32 PM

PRINCE GEORGE — This time of year can be difficult for many, which is why looking after your mental health is important and a local MP is pushing for more supports.

The conversation about mental health has grown over the years, but the problems surrounding access to mental health supports is still very much a problem province wide and nation wide.

MP for Cariboo-Prince George Todd Doherty has championed mental health initiatives and supports since he was elected to Parliament in 2015 and introduced a motion in the House of Commons to create 988, a mental health crisis and suicide prevention line. The CRTC has agreed to implement 988 in November.

When someone is in a crisis, Doherty says it is crucial to have a quick and easy to remember number to save precious seconds. 1 in 5 Canadians report that they are struggling with their mental health, but that figure is likely to undercounted due to the stigma still surrounding conversations regarding mental health.

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Getting the message across regarding mental health and those struggling needs to be had, Doherty says, and he says that Bell Let’s Talk day has elevated the conversation, but the conversation needs to be ongoing, and not limited to a few times a year.

While the 988 number won’t be implemented until the fall, there are other numbers, including the Northern BC Crisis Line, which is 1-888-562-1214, which you can call at anytime.